Upholstering



ERING Filed Feb. 28, 1951 1. ET- 7 IN V EN To R.

Oct. 7, 1952 a. J. NAUGHTON, JR 2,612,941

UPI-IOLSTERING Filed Feb. 28, 1951 2. 'sm'nssrmm z inf-j IN VEN TOR.

emit i) J. nwz/a/rra/v JP.

Patented Oct. 7, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UPHOLSTERING Bartley J. Naughton .1 r., Birmingham, Mich., as-

.sign'or. of onehalf to Stephen F. Olesak, De-

' :troit, Mich;

Application February 28, 1951, Serial No. 213,240

The fabric anchor comprises a relatively -inflexible tab of suitablefm'aterial suchas fiberboardor impregnated cardboard sewedto the edge of the fabric at a point intermediate the longitudinal edges of theia'bric. The bar members parallel the bottom edge of the item or cushion in spaced relation to thecushion andto each other to provide a space between the bars for inserting the tab into the space between the bars. and the-cushion. In this *manner the tab is trapped and "positioned with its opposite longitudinal "edges extending beyond the parallel bars with the sewed line of-attachment self-locating. itself adjacent the inside edge of-the outside bar due to the pull of the iabric eifectediby the re.- silience' ef the cushion orthe' fabricitself; and the tab is soproportioned and sized that when the sewed --1ine-of attachment is so positioned the tab is positioned behind bothbars.

-Upholstering fabric has heretofore" been. attached towood'eni rames by naiiing or-tacking,- and to metal frames, such as automobile. cushions, by looping the fabric around a frame member" and using metal *ciips; "such'asi'fhog rings to" fasten thefabric to other members or "to itself. A tool known as a hog-ringefl is usually employed to set the hog-rings and the worker operating the hog-ringer" in generally limited to four hours per day "on this operation. due to the swelling "of the" users hand muscles- Obv-iously, the backer 'orhog'-'ringer isa skilled craftsman and the tacking and "'hog-ringing" a thneconsuming operation which isexpensive.

'With theiorego'ing in view, it is a primary object of the invention "to providamore' efficient means and metho'ds'ior attaching'yfabric'to upho'lstered articles which do not require skilled craftsmen and which arecheapery'simpler; and improved over the devices and methods of the prior art. An object of the'invention is: to provide "methods and means for attaching fabric to an upholstered article which 'obviates'the' necessity "of tacking and hog-ringing? I An object at the invention is to providem'ethe ods and means for mounting; uphol'sterin'g fabric suitable for use in conjunction with complete preiabricated-sub assembly manufacture.

An object of the invention is to provlde a-re-latively inflexible tab sewed to the iabr'ic or cloth adjacent the edge oi the cloth but at a pain-ton the tab between the edges thereof so that-the tab can assume the position of a T-s haped h-ead to secure thefabr'icl An object of the invention is to providekbar'sjspaced from each other and from the' cushidn tor inserting the tab between the bars and thenbetween the barsand the cushion.

An objectot theinvention-isto sew'the fabric to the tab so thatin secured position: the tabl ies between the bars and the cushion, and theiabrlc lies between the bars with the sewed attachment self-locating itself adjacent the bar -over which the fabric ispulled An object of the invention is to' providefabfiic replacement.

An object of the invention is 'toprovide-m'eans for mounting or de mounti-ng thefabric on anupholst-ered article requiringno special skill'or training and which can beperformed byanyper son without any special-knowledge or tools.

An object of the invention is to eliminateicng ticle without special custom work and/or to provlde removable coverings for seasonal variations, replacement; and cleaning. These and other objects of the-invention wili' become apparent by reference to the following description of the inventive catch and anchor including the bars, tabs and rails embodyingthe invention taken in connection with the accom' i panying drawings showing the invention ingcon junction with an automobile seat cushion as an.

optional example, in which:

' Fig. '1 is a perspective view 'oi a cus'hionin cross-section showing the inventionLintegrated therewith.

- Fig. 2 is an inverted partial view of the cushion of Fig. 1 showing the various elements of the invention in perspective and cross-section.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section partial view of an inverted seat cushion showing the inventive eiements in locked condition.

ing the inventive bars.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 taken on the'line 3-8 thereof showing the device of Fig. 6 integrated with the device of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified rail incorporating modified bars.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the modified bar and corner section.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the upholstering fabric equipped with the inventive anchor tabs showing in dotted lines the sewed attachment between the tab and fabric.

- Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 4.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 4:. Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 3; and Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a mouification in fabric-totab disposition.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views of the two embodiments of the invention shown in conjunction with an automobile seat cushion for purposes of illus tration only, the cushion, fabric, and inventive attaching devices comprise a cushion 253, a first bar 2|, Fig.3 or afirst bar 22, Fig. 14, spaced from the bottom of the cushion 2d and paralleling the edge of the cushion 29, Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 10; a second bar 23, Fig. 3, or a second bar 2d, Fig. 14, spaced from the bottom of the cushion and from the first bar 2i or 22 and paralleling the first bar; a fabric 25 covering the cushion 2i] looping around the first bar 2| or 22; a relatively inflexible tab 25, Figs. 2 and 3, or a tab 2?, Figs. 10, 11, and 14, attached to the fabric 25 by sewing or otherwise disposed in the space between the bars and the cushion 2d spanning the space between the bars thereby anchoring the fabric 25 to the cushion 20.

More particularly, the cushion 28 comprises the bat 36, the mat 3 i, coil springs 32 or other flexible members, supports 33, and a suitable framework. to hold the various elements together in supported and/or supporting relationship. Obviously the cushion can be any type or style, with or without springing, and sized and shaped as desired to suit any general or particular purpose. The automobile seat cushion is used as an example for disclosure and illustration because it is unusually complicated, subject to hard usage, and usually the fabric thereon is permanently mounted.

Referring now to the attaching elements of the device seen in Figs. 1 to 8, the front bar it and the rear bar 23 are integral with a common back member 453, which back it supports the front bar 2| via a bridge portion fill U shaped in crosssection, and which back it supports the rear bar 23 via the flange portion 132 L shaped in crosssection. The back bar 23 is formed in this in- 4 stance by lancing the slots 4? in the flange 42. The tab 26 is sewed to the fabric 25 longitudinally intermediate its longitudinal edges at a point adapted to lie along the inside edge of the outside or front bar with a portion it of the tab lying behind the front bar 2i and a portion 25 of the tab lying behind the rear bar 23. The fabric 25 loops around the front bar 2| and the U-shaped bridge section iii and pulls on the tab 26 at the stitching 35 and locates the stitching 43 at the inside edge of the front or outside bar 25 with the portion id and the portion 55 of the tab 26 positioned behind the bars 2i and 23 respectively and maintains this position of the tab 25 as the stitching $6 is at dead center as the pull of the fabric at the inside of the outside bar 2| is at an angle of to the tab 28. The edge id of the tab 26 issubstantially continuous to provide substantially continuous attachment and support for the fabric 25; the edge &5 of the tab 26 is interrupted so that it may enter the slots dl in the flange 52 below the bar 23. A protective Wear-resistant strip d8 is disposed and sewed by the stitching it relative to the tab 28 and fabric 25 so as to be adjacent the inside edge of the out-side bar 2| and the face of the outside bar 2| between the bar 2| and the cloth or fabric 25 so that all abrasive action by the bar 2| is absorbed by the strip 43.

Referring more particularly now to the attach= ing elements of the modified device seen in Figs. 9 to 14, the tab 2'! is sewed longitudinally to the fabric 25 by the stitching 50 intermediate the longitudinal edges of the tab 2? so that in final or attached condition the tab 2? is trapped behind or below the bars 22 and 24 with the por-- tion 5| of the tab 2? behind the outside or front bar 22 and the portion 52 behind the inside or back bar 24. The front or outside bar 22 is supported and made integral with the back 53 by the bridge portion 54 U shaped in cross-section, and the back or inside bar 213 is also supported and made integral with the back 53 by a bridge portion 55 U shaped in cross-section. An abrasion absorbing strip 56 is interposed between the fabric 25 and the bar 22 so that the cloth 25 is not abraded by the bar 22.

In operation the tabs 26 or 21 are sewed as previously described to the cloth 25 which is previously properly dimensioned and marked so that when the fabric is secured it will have the desired fit. The bars 2| and 23 or 22 and 24 are annexed to the cushion 20. The fabric is laid on a table face down and the cushion 20 placed upside-down on the fabric 25. The cushion is then compressed as seen in Figs. i, 5, l2, and 13 to provide a relative surplus of fabric 25 with which to work. The portion 45 of the tab 26 or the portion 52 of: the tab 21 is then inserted behind the back bar 23 or 24 so that the portion 44 of the tab 26 or the portion 5| of the tab 27 clears the inside edge of the outside bar 2| or 22. The portion 45 of the tab 26 or the portion 5| of the tab- 2ll is then slid under the outside bar 2| or 22.-

The cushion 2k} is then allowed to expand so that it takes up the relative slack in the fabric 25 causing it to exert tension on the stitches 46 or 5|) to pull the stitches 46 or 5!] to dead center which is at the inside edge of the outward bar 2| or 22 which stitching 4B or 50 is also the fulcrum point on the tab 26 or 27 as levered between the bars 2| and 23 or 22 and 25. To remove the fabric 25 from the cushion 20 the above described operation is substantially reversed and quite obvious.

It will be noted in Figs. 10 and 11 that the corner section is equipped with bars 2| and 23 00-.

operating with 'an arcuate crsector-like tab 58 while the extending straight sections are equippedwi-th bars 22 and I4 cooperating-with tabs 21. Obviously thecorner section can utilize barszz and 24 and an 'arcuate tab 21. Fig. shows the cloth or fabric 25A sewed to the tab Z'l-A by stitching 50A with the selvage or edged portion of the fabric 25A oppositelydisposecl relative to the other figures occupying the area between thebars. It' is to be noted that the stitching 58h locates itself at the inside edge of the bar 22 as in the other instances.

It is tobe noted, Fig. 1, that the rail'fill embodying thebar 2|, bridge 4|, back MLfiange 2; and bar 23 is adapted to act as the bottom periphera'l'support member for the cushion and that thesupports 33 are welded'thereto. This is also true in the case of the rail 6|, Fig. 9, whichembodies the bar 22, bridge 54, back 53, bridge 55,and bar as the rail 6| iswelded to the supports 33 l and "constitutes the cus'hions bottom peripheral structural member. 60 and 6| can be welded or otherwise secured to the cushion as seen in the drawings or they can float on the bottom of a cushion, such as a thick sponge or foam rubber pad with the elasticity-of the cushion and/or the fabric tensioning therail, cushion and fabric into one integrated unit thereby not only 'providing the attaching means for the fabric but also furnishing a stiff support'for the otherwise wobbly pad or cushion. Obviously thetabs can be glued, riveted, orannexed in any other way to the fabric within the purview of the invention.

In the secured position the tabs 26 and 21 in conjunction with the cloth or fabric assume the relation of a T-head bolt in relation to the bars biased by the pull of the fabric constituting the stem of the T into engaging relation with the bars so that the tab will not become disengaged with the stem of the T abutted against the side edge of the outside rail.

In use, the fabric 25 is caughtbetween' the bar 2! or 22 over which it looped and the support upon which the cushion is positioned so that when the cushion is compressed as by a heavy person sitting thereon, the fabric does not become slack in the area of the tab even though the fabric becomes slack in the other areas of the cushion,

such as along the sides of the cushion. This characteristic insures the proper location of the tab relative tothe bars under all conditions of use or non-use. The tab, banand rail dimensions are so determined togetherwith the location of the stitching that the tab is easily insertable behind the bars and positionable in locked condition by the fabric pull.

Although but two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape detail, and arrangements of the vari-, ous, elements of the invention Within the scope of the, appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An upholstery fabric attaching device for securing fabric under tension efiect-ed by the resilience of a cushion or the fabric itself comprising a cushion, a first bar spaced from the bottom of said cushion paralleling the edge of said cushion, a second bar spaced from the bottom of said cushion paralleling said first bar in spaced relation thereto, a fabric covering said cushion looping around said first bar, a tab less flexible than the fabric and attached to the fabric and disposed in the space between said bars and The rails r' tinuous attachment.

5. A fabric attaching device for securing fabric to an article, such as in uphol's'tering, comprising a member such as a. cushion, a fabric turnovering said member, a tabgmeans attaching said tab to said fabric adjacentits' edge at-a point on said tab intermediate itslongitudinal edges, a first bar paralleling the bottom edge of said member; and a second bar spaced from and paralleling said first-bar; said tab beinginserted between said. bars so as to be engaged by said bars with the attaching means attaching said tab tosaid fabric being positioned between said bars so thatpull on said fabric self-locates said tab in spanning relation to said bars to secure said fabricon said member.

6. The combination of a fabric anchor catch and an interfitting fabric anchor for use in the attachment of fabric to an upholstered article; said fabric anchor comprising a tab less fl'exibie than the fabric secured to the fabric adjacentto theedge of thefabric' and intermediate the edges of thesaid tab so that the said tab laterally ex-- tends on either side of thelongitudina'l securing line; said anchor catch comprising a rail member having one sidesubstan-tially U shaped in crosssection trapping one longitudinal edge of the said 7 anchor therein; and a receiving channel on the other side of the said catch trapping the other edge of the said anchor so that the fabric and the said fabric anchor are thereby annexed to the said. anchor catch.

'7. The combination of a fabric anchor catch and an interfitting fabric anchor for use in the attachment of fabric to an upholstered article, the said fabric anchor comprising an anchor material less flexibie than said fabric and sewed to the fabric adjacent to the edge of the fabric and intermediate the 'e'dge's'of the said anchor so that the anchor material extends on either-side of the longitudinal sewing line, one edge of the said fabric anchor being substantially continuous and the other edge of the said fabric anchor having tab, like projections; the said anchor catch compressing a rail member having one side substantially U shaped in cross-section trapping the said continuous edge of the said anchor therein and receiving slots in the other side of the said catch trapping the said tab-like projectionson the other, edge ofthe said anchorso that the said, fabric anchor and attached fabric are thereby annexed to the anchor catch.

8.. A means of attaching fabric to an upholstered article comprising an anchor sewed to the fabric and an anchor catch secured to the frame of the upholstered article, the said anchor being made of strip material less flexible than said fabric and sewed on a longitudinal sewing line intermediate the parallel edges of the material near the edge of the fabric, the said anchor catch being formed as a rail-like channel; the sides of the said anchor catch being substantially U shaped in cross-section removabiy securing the edges of the said anchor.

9. A fabric anchor catch and a cooperating fabric anchor dcmountably-mounting fabric on an upholstered article, the fabric anchor comprising a material less flexible than said fabric and secured intermediate its edges adjacent to the edge of the fabric, the fabric anchor catch secured to the frame of the upholstered article comprising a longitudinal receiving portion trapping one edge of the said fabric anchor and a longitudinal restricting portion normally preventing the escapernent of the said fabric anchor from the said longitudinal receiving portion of the said anchor catch.

'10. An upholstery fabric attaching construction comprising a cushion, a first bar mounted on said cushion in spaced relationship thereto, a second bar mounted on said cushion in spaced relationship thereto and in parallel spaced relationship to said first bar, a fabric cover tensioned on said cushion so that its edge terminates approximately between said bars, and a fiberboard anchor strip disposed between said cushion and said bars spanning said bars stitched to said fabric adjacent the edge of said fabric and at a point on said strip intermediate the edges of said strip; said strip being located in spanning relationship to said bars by the pull of said fabric.

11. An upholstery fabric attaching construccent the edge of said fabric and at a point on said strip intermediate the edges of said strip; said strip being located in spanning relationship to said bars by the pull of said fabric; said bars being first mounted on said cushion and said strip being first stitched to said fabric; said strip being manually insertable between said bars and between said bars and said cushion; said strip being located in spanning relationship to said bars by the pull of said fabric thereon.

12. An upholstery fabric attaching construction comprising a cushion, a first bar on said cushion in spaced relationship thereto, a second bar on said cushion in spaced relationship thereto and in parallel spaced relationship to said first bar, a fabric covering said cushion so that its edge terminates approximately between said bars, and a fiberboard anchor strip disposed between said cushion and said bars spanning said bars stitched to said fabric adjacent the edge of said fabric and at a point on said strip intermediate the edges of said strip; said strip being located in spanning relationship to said bars by the pull of said fabric; said bars being first mounted on said cushion and said strip being first stitched to said fabric; said strip being manually insertable between said bars, and, between said bars and said cushion; said strip being automatically located in spanning relationship to said bars by the pull of said fabric thereon; said strip being manually extractable from between said bars and said cushion, and, from between said bars to detach said fabric from said cushion.

13. An upholstery attaching and detaching construction comprising, a cushion, a first bar on said cushion in parallel relationship to an edge thereof, a second bar on said cushion in substantially parallel spaced relationship to said first bar, a fabric covering said cushion terminating in the area of said bars, and a fiberboard anchor strip stitched to said fabric at a point intermediate the longitudinal edges of said strip; said fiberboard strip being sidewise insertable between said bars, and, between said bars and said cushion; said fabric being adapted to exert a pull on said strip to locate their mutual stitched connection between said bars with said strip in spanningrelationship to said bars thereby attaching said fabric to said cushion.

14. An upholstery attaching construction comprising, a cushion, a first bar on said cushion in parallel relationship to an edge of said cushion, a second bar in substantially parallel relationship to said first bar, a fabric covering said cushion terminating in the area of said bars, and a fiberboard anchor strip stitched to said fabric at a point intermediate the longitudinal edges of said strip; said fiberboard strip being sidewise insertable between said bars, and, between said bars and said cushion; said fabric being adapted to exert a pull on said strip to locate their mutual stitched connection between said bars with said strip-in spanning relationship to said bars thereby attaching said fabric to said cushion; said strip being sidewise extractable from between said bars and said cushion and from between said bars by relieving the pull of said fabric on said strip.

15. In a device as set forth in claim 5, said bars being interconnected by a bridging member.

16. In. a device as set forth in claim 5, said fabric securing said bars to said member in floating relationship thereto.

BARTLEY J. NAUGHTON, JR.

REFERENCES CITE?) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 'Date 1,020,407 Foster Mar. 19, 1912 1,4685% Bennett Sept. 25, 1923 1,926,089 Forbes et a1. Sept. 12, 1933 2,101,124 Young Dec. 7, 1937 2,235,874 Freeman Mar. 25, 1941 2,323,794 Clark July 6, 1943 2,538,855 Asaro Jan. 23, 1951 

